Vetus Scotia - Posted - 02/27/2013:  04:47:34

Has anyone ever heard of Halden mandolins? This is the only information that seems to be available online: norskegitarer.no/?page_id=989

I was directed to this site when I was looking around on behalf someone who has an unidentified mandolin, purchased in Norway in the 1920s. It has a Norwegian music store name on the label. Seems like these might be rare even in Norway. 

Edited by - Vetus Scotia on 02/27/2013 07:06:53

Ben Venuti - Posted - 02/27/2013:  11:16:23

Looks like any of a number of Chicago built mandolins possibly by Regal, Kay/Harmony--who knows. It does appear to be American made-Waverly "Cloud" tailpiece and all. Many were manufactured unlabeled "for the trade" to be branded by others and sold in music shops or catalogs. The name may be rare but I don't think that the mandolin is.

Vetus Scotia - Posted - 02/27/2013:  13:14:43

Yeah, it does look like those old American made ones, but this one is definitely Norwegian made. The website I linked to (I think I linked to) has a shot of  an almost identical mandolin, which it says was built by two brothers who made guitars and sometimes mandolins in Halden Norway. TYhe brand is Halden Music Industry (that is a literal translation I take it). But that is all I can find out, and this is with the help of a guy *in Norway*! So, does not seem like these are in circulation, and there may not even be common in Norway (unlike Levins, which are hen's teeth here but quite common in Sweeden).

The owner is interested in selling this, but wanted to know more before doing so. 

Ben Venuti - Posted - 02/28/2013:  01:16:51

My guess is that it wouldn't be worth much more than any of it's equivalents. Maybe less because there is very little name recognition. Very few vintage instruments will sell for more than a Martin or a Gibson and many instruments that are even better than a Martin or a Gibson will ever sell in the used or vintage market for anything close to as much simply because of the lack of name recognition. Rare doesn't really mean that much.Somethings are rare for a reason and if no one wanted them then why does someone want it now? Gibson produced the F5 and those early Loar signature ones can sell for $200,000+ ---there are at least 250 of them + many many more good ones produced after the Loar era. People want them and that is what drives the price. Martin produced the 2-30 to compete with the F5. It's a stunningly beautiful mandolin and sounds and plays very nicely though different than the F5. There were only 63 ever produced and I can direct you to where you can pick one up for around $4000. It's all about demand. If there are Halden mandolin nerds out there and you can connect with them,well, maybe then----